Ferrell Croft has his retirement mapped out

Hunched over his drafting table, Ferrell Croft painstakingly draws first one line and then another. Within minutes the lines connect, a shape develops and soon another parcel of Levy County land is mapped for posterity-or at least until it is subdivided again and the process starts over.

Monday, Croft packed up his drafting tools and walked away from a job he's had for over 30 years as the county mapper.

His career began by drafting survey maps and for years he worked for himself and the private sector.

But 30 years ago the company he was working for sold out and he got wind of a job with Levy County.

Working under then property appraiser Dwight Bell, a new career was born and it proved to be the final move in his career.

"I enjoy drawing maps," the Suwannee County native said, adding he did not find the solitary work either tedious or repetitious.

Self-taught, Croft said the skill he brought to the table was his love of geography and watching all the pieces of the puzzle come together.

Today with computers replacing the human touch, Croft knows that his abilities, his skills are quickly becoming passe.

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